Peripherally reinforced sheet metal table top construction



E. C. BOOTH May 13, 1952 PERIPHERALLY REINFORCED SHEET METAL TABLE TOPCONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 27, 1950 JNVENTOR. fmaz. 6T floor/r,

Patented May 13, 1952 PERIPHERAL-LY REINFORCED SHEET METAL TABLE TOPCONSTRUCTION Earl C. Booth, Columbus, Ind., assignorito ArvinIndustriealnc.

Application February 27, 1950, Serial No. 146,511

6 Claims. (Cl. 311-106) This invention relates to tables and moreparticularly to a tabletop adapted to be constructed of sheet metal. Thetable top is especiallysuited for use in an ironing table, but it is notlimited to such use.

It-is an object of the invention to produce a tabletop which willpossess a high degree of strength and rigidity and which canbe simplyand economically manufactured of metal parts. A further object of theinvention is to produce a strong, rigid table-top of attractiveappearance.

In carrying out the invention, the tabletop is formed of upper and lowermetal panels. The peripheral portion of the lower panel is oifsetdownwardly to provide a channel for the reception of a tubular borderframe, and along the extreme marginal edge of such channel there isformed a peripheral series of spaced, upwardly projecting bossesproviding a seat for such border frame. The upper metal panel extendsoutwardly over the border frame, its marginal portion being bentdownwardly over the border frame and inwardly beneath the margin of thelower panel. The lower panel may be ribbed to increase the strength andstiiiness of the tabletop. I

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention: Fig. 1 is afragmental plan view showing a, corner of the tabletop; Fig. 2 is afragmental side elevation, with portions of the upper panel and borderframe broken away to illustrate the construction more clearly; Fig. 3 isa vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentalisometric view illustrating a detail of construction.

The table-top shown in the drawing comprises upper and lower sheet-metalpanels In and H. The peripheral portion of the lower panel is offsetdownwardly from the plane of the center portion of the panel to providea vertical wall I 2 and an outwardly extending flange I3 joining eachother in a smooth bend adapted to seat against the surface of areinforcing border frame M, such border frame conveniently being formedof sheet-metal tubing, as indicated in the drawing. Along its outeredge, the flange I3 is provided with a series of spaced, upwardlyextending bosses l6 formed by upward displacement of the sheet metal.The upper faces of such bosses desirably conform to the externalcrosssectional shape of the border frame [4, so that the upper face ofthe bosses and the bend joining the vertical wall l2 and flange 13 forma seat for the border frame, as will be clear from Figs. 2 and 3.Conveniently, the marginal por- I 2 tion of the lower-panel II isinitially formed as indicated in Fig. 4, the blank from which the panelis made having dimensions such that the bosses I 6 will be spacedinwardly from its edges; and after the formation of the panel has beencompleted, it is trimmed flush with the outer faces of the bosses [6, onthe line I! shown in Fig. 4.

Preferably, the lower panel I l is provided with transversely extendingstiffening and reinforcing ribs 20 formed by downwardly displacement ofthe metal. For the sake of lightness, and to provide stock for theformation of the ribs 20, the panel ll may be provided with largeopenings 2|.

The'central portion of the panel l0 overlies the central portion of thelower panel I I; and to secure the panels together the lower panel,between the openings 2|, may be provided with circular openings' whichreceive annular eyeletlike flanges struck downwardly from the upperpanel ID, as indicated at 22 in Fig. 3. The openings 23 shown in the toppanel provide ventilation for an ironing-tabletop. At the edges of thetabletop, the metal of the panel In is bent downwardlyover the borderframe M to form a vertical flange 25 lying-against the outerfaces of thebosses It. To complete the assembly, the edge of the flange 25 is thenbent inwardly, as indicated at 26 in Figs. 2 and 3, against the lowersurface of the flange I3 on the lower panel, thus tightly securing theupper and lower panels together and tightly clamping the border frame I4 in place. The bosses l6 stiffen the flange [3, provide a rigid supportfor the flange 25, and facilitate the operation of inwardly bending theedge 26. In addition, the upper faces of the bosses co-operate with thewall l2 to locate the sides and ends of the border frame against bothinward and outward displacement relative to the lower panel ll, thusmaking it unnecessary to secure the ends of the border frame together.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, superposed first and second sheet-metal panels, thefirst panel having its peripheral portion offset away from the secondpanel, a border frame disposed between the second panel and the offsetperipheral portion of the first panel, the peripheral portion of the second panel being bent to form a flange embracing said border frame, saidflange and the offset peripheral portion of the first panel beingsecured together at their edges, the ofiset portion of the first panelbeing provided along its margin with a series of peripherally spacedbosses providing a seat for the border frame to limit outedge of theoffset peripheral portion of the firstpanel and being providedtherebeyondlwith ani inturned lip engaging the rernp de; oft theoffsetportion, said border frame being formed of material of circularcross-section, the-inner -part of the offset portion being curved incross-section to conform substantially tothgma-terialof the; 7

border frame, said offset portion being provided along its margin with aseries of peripherally spaced, integral bosses having faces conformingubstanti lly. toe hemate iall-ofzthegborsi rf ram and,co-operat ngv withthe curved; innem o h fisetportion;toyprovideforr erhorder r me a seatlimitin both ou ward, andv inward movemen tof. he; border rame,

h nvention; s trferth; in cl im, 1; with; h add tion h t. aid; b s e 1 hre: out r acess i b: stantially flush with the edge of said offset por;ion.

ee .m a1 pa els, he, fir anel; havin it p r ph ral ortion; fiset; w yrom he; e on pan l, aho errame.diseased-between heee- Qnd panel and,the. offset-p ripheral po tion ofi h first panel, the peripheral portionof the;sepond panelbein lhent toform at lanee enthral n said bord r.rame, saimflane gand; he ffeetape iphrerakport on of, he-first: panell en e ecured 0- ee er: at their edees,.., a d order tram bein f rmed of:mat r al f; irfiu a r-qrosss e tioni th lfdfll 1 .31commratiee;withsthez uryed 4. In; eombinationr sup rposed;firtzand'secon stantially flush with 7 por ion.

inner part of the offset portion to provide for the border framea seatlimiting both outward and inward movement of the border frame, saidbosses also having outer faces substantially flush with the outer edgeof the offset portion.

5. In combination, superposed first and second sheet-metal panels, thefirst panel having its peripheral portion offset awayfrom the secondpanel, arborder-frame disposed between the second panel and the offsetperipheral portion of the first panel, the peripheral portion of thesecond panel being bentto form afiange embracinesaidiborder frame, saidflange and the offset peripheral portion of the first panel beingsecured togetherat. their edges, said border frame being formed ofmaterial of circular cross-section, the inner part of said offsetportion being curved in cross seotion' to conform substantially to thematerial of the border frame, said ofiset portion being provided alongits margin with a series of periphera y spaced; n r 7 bosses; h y ng econ o min ub an ial y o. he a lo rth border rame and;co-0p6m .1, withthe: curved inner part of theofiset portion, to provide for the borderframe a seat limiting both outward and: nwa d m men of e borderrame 6,The inventionsetforth in claima2 with-the addition that said bosses haveouter; faces; subhe, uterq deei of, the. offset file ofithis patent:

UNITED STATES rn Ts Noblitt et a1. Nov-. 8, 1949

